Current bylaw is no fire within 5 metres of a building or structure, fires only between 6 pm and 11 pm and a $10 dollar permit required for every fire.
Check out the article from the Record below.
Council allowing backyard bonfires
Backyard fire Faced with opposition to any ban on backyard fires, Kitchener council has backed off on imposing neighbourhood fire restrictions.
Ryan Pfeiffer/File photo
KITCHENER — In the face of widespread opposition to any restrictions on backyard fires, city councillors voted Monday to forget about limiting the number of fires, requiring permits and imposing a $10 fee for each one.
Councillors rescinded a six-metre rule that was put in place in June and effective immediately fires can be set within five metres of buildings and property lines.
Beginning April 1, 2013, backyard fires can be set between the hours of 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
But the city’s bylaw enforcement officers can still order a fire extinguished if the smoke becomes a nuisance. That provision is in the current bylaw and will be in the new one that takes effect next year.
Voting in favour of allowing fires were — Mayor Carl Zehr and councillors Paul Singh, Frank Etherington, Scott Davey, Kelly Galloway, Berry Vrbanovic, Yvonne Fernandes and Bil Ioannidis.
Voting against the move — councillors John Gazzola, Daniel Glenn Graham and Zyg Janecki.
Councillors heard from more than 10 people Monday before voting on the issue, that arose earlier this year when a woman complained about neighbours who regularly had bonfires in their backyard.
Hazel Sheard started an online petition to protest against any ban or partial ban on backyard fires. She collected more than 2,400 names and the widespread opposition clearly impressed some city councillors.
Ingrid Sienerth called for a total ban, saying the smoke from backyard fires is a health hazard.
“It is dividing neighbourhoods as well,” Sienerth said.
In the end, councillors sided with residents who want to enjoy backyard fires.
“This has been a difficult issue,” Vrbanovic said.
But for Glenn-Graham, the health concerns made the decision easier.
“When we have a conflict, health has to trump everything else,” Glenn-Graham said.
It was Galloway who called for the immediate scrapping of the six-metre rule. She represents many new suburbs where lot sizes are smaller and the minimum-distance rule effectively banned fires there.
Galloway said she understands the health impacts, but occasional recreational fires should be OK.
“Everyone should take into account the impact on their neighbours,” Galloway said.
In calling for a total ban, Gazzola noted that residents who get along with their neighbours would still be able to have backyard fires because bylaws are only enforced when someone complains.
“I am being realistic,” Gazzola said.
Councillors rescinded a six-metre rule that was put in place in June and effective immediately fires can be set within five metres of buildings and property lines.
Beginning April 1, 2013, backyard fires can be set between the hours of 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
But the city’s bylaw enforcement officers can still order a fire extinguished if the smoke becomes a nuisance. That provision is in the current bylaw and will be in the new one that takes effect next year.
Voting in favour of allowing fires were — Mayor Carl Zehr and councillors Paul Singh, Frank Etherington, Scott Davey, Kelly Galloway, Berry Vrbanovic, Yvonne Fernandes and Bil Ioannidis.
Voting against the move — councillors John Gazzola, Daniel Glenn Graham and Zyg Janecki.
Councillors heard from more than 10 people Monday before voting on the issue, that arose earlier this year when a woman complained about neighbours who regularly had bonfires in their backyard.
Hazel Sheard started an online petition to protest against any ban or partial ban on backyard fires. She collected more than 2,400 names and the widespread opposition clearly impressed some city councillors.
Ingrid Sienerth called for a total ban, saying the smoke from backyard fires is a health hazard.
“It is dividing neighbourhoods as well,” Sienerth said.
In the end, councillors sided with residents who want to enjoy backyard fires.
“This has been a difficult issue,” Vrbanovic said.
But for Glenn-Graham, the health concerns made the decision easier.
“When we have a conflict, health has to trump everything else,” Glenn-Graham said.
It was Galloway who called for the immediate scrapping of the six-metre rule. She represents many new suburbs where lot sizes are smaller and the minimum-distance rule effectively banned fires there.
Galloway said she understands the health impacts, but occasional recreational fires should be OK.
“Everyone should take into account the impact on their neighbours,” Galloway said.
In calling for a total ban, Gazzola noted that residents who get along with their neighbours would still be able to have backyard fires because bylaws are only enforced when someone complains.
“I am being realistic,” Gazzola said.
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